Coordinating pivoting and extending vehicle mirror

ABSTRACT

A first power mechanism is provided in association with a fixed support and with a swingable structure, and pivots the swingable structure relative to the fixed support between an extended position and a folded position adjacent the vehicle. A second power mechanism is operatively associated with a swingable structure and a mirror housing to move the mirror housing between inner and outer extended positions. A third mechanism moves the mirror unit into desired adjusted position about horizontal and vertical axes. An electronic control controls the operation of the first power mechanism, the second power mechanism and third power mechanism to control the powered pivoting of swingable structure.

This application claims the benefit of provisional application No.60/106,674, filed Nov. 2, 1998.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The subject invention relates to a mirror assembly for attachment to theside of an automotive vehicle and which may be adjusted to variouspositions.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Automobiles and trucks are provided with side-mounted rear view mirrorsfor providing the driver with a desired field of view extending behindand along the side of the vehicle. Some vehicles, such as trucks andvehicles with trailers, have side-mounted rear view mirrors withenhanced fields of view. For example, vehicles with trailers haveside-mounted rear view mirrors which extend out further than those of atypical automobile. These laterally “extended” mirrors provide thedriver with a field of view which covers an area reaching behind andalongside the trailer and which is unobstructed by the trailer.

However, a driver of a vehicle carrying a large trailer will encountervarious situations in which it will be necessary to adjust the positionof an extended rear view mirror. For example, the angular position ofthe mirror is adjusted to accommodate the requirements of differentdrivers and to accommodate changing requirements of the same driver asthe size of the truck trailer changes. A truck driver may also encounterobstacles such as tollgates, loading/unloading docks, narrow driveways,and so on. When those obstacles are encountered, the mirror's lateralposition may either limit the driver's ability to maneuver around theobstacle or require the driver to manually move the mirror beforehand.It is often necessary to move the mirror to a position next adjacent thevehicle to clear obstacles. In addition, there is a need to control themovement of the mirror remotely from with in the vehicle.

Various assemblies are known in the prior art for adjusting a mirrorassembly between inner and outer extended positions, as exemplified inU.S. Pat. No. 4,911,545 to Miller and U.S. Pat. No. 5,572,376 to Pace,while others disclose assemblies for rotating the mirror assembly to afolded position adjacent the vehicle, as exemplified in U.S. Pat. No.4,363,534 to Covert, U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,014 to Fujie et al and U.S.pat. No. 5,703,732 to Boddy et al. However, there remains a need for amirror assembly which can be remotely controlled by power to both beextended and retracted as well as be rotated or pivoted to a foldedposition adjacent the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES

The subject invention provides a vehicle mirror assembly which can beremotely controlled by power to both be extended and retracted as wellas be rotated or pivoted to a folded position adjacent the vehicle. Theimproved mirror assembly comprises a fixed support adapted to be mountedon a vehicle. A swingable structure is pivotally supported by andextends laterally from the fixed support to a distal end for pivotalmovement about a generally upright axis between an operative positionextending laterally and a folded position extending transversely to theextended position. A mirror housing is supported at the distal end ofthe swingable structure. A first power mechanism pivots the swingablestructure about the upright axis between the operative and the foldedpositions. And a second power mechanism operatively interconnects theswingable structure and the mirror housing for moving the mirror housingrelative to the fixed support to various positions of adjustment betweeninner and outer limiting positions.

Accordingly, the subject invention provides a mirror assembly that canbe remotely controlled by power to be both extended and retracted aswell as rotated or pivoted to a folded position adjacent the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated,as the same becomes better understood by reference to the followingdetailed description when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the mirror assembly in an extendedposition relative to a vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of certain components of the mirrorassembly in a retracted position relative to the vehicle;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the components shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the components shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5—5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative arrangement of thecomponents shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the fixed supportassembly;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8—8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9—9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the pivot assemblyas shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 showing the position of thecomponents during the movement of the housing assembly from itsoperative position to the rear fold position;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 10 showing the position of thecomponents during the movement of the housing assembly from itsoperative position to the forward fold position; and

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a control system for controlling theoperation of the various illustrated power mechanisms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 illustrates avehicle mirror assembly 10, which includes a mirror housing 12 supportedby a swingable structure 16. A fixed support 18 is constructed andarranged to be fixedly mounted on a vehicle 19 and supports swingablestructure 16 in an operative position extending laterally outwardly fromthe vehicle. Mirror housing 12 is provided with, among other elements, amirror unit 14, which serves as an exterior rear view mirror for thevehicle's driver.

A first power mechanism 20 is provided in association with the fixedsupport 18 and with swingable structure 16, and is arranged to enableswingable structure 16 to be pivoted with respect to fixed support 18about a generally upright axis defined by the axis of rotation of firstpower mechanism 20. Swingable structure 16 may then be pivoted (1)between its operative position (extending laterally outwardly from thevehicle to allow the driver of the vehicle to utilize mirror unit 14 asan exterior rear view mirror) and a folded position in response to poweroperation of first power mechanism 20. The first power mechanism 20further allows swingable structure 16 to be pivoted from its operativeposition in either direction in response to an unwanted impact belowapplied in either direction to either swingable structure 16 or tomirror housing 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the folded position ofswingable structure 16 in response to power operation of first powermechanism 20 is the position at which the face of mirror unit 14 is putin close proximity or next adjacent to the vehicle; for example, almosttouching the side panel of the vehicle's door (not shown).

A second power mechanism 24, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is operativelyassociated with a swingable structure 16 and mirror housing 12 to movemirror housing 12 between inner or retracted (see FIG. 2) and outer orextended (see FIG. 1) limiting positions into a desired position ofadjustment upon the power operation of the second power mechanism 24.The mirror holder 26 comprises an electrically powered third powermechanism 28 operatively associated with mirror housing 12 and mirrorholder 26 to move mirror unit 14 into a desired adjusted position abouthorizontal and vertical axes.

FIG. 2 shows main housing portion 40 in the inner limiting position withrespect to upper support arm 32 and lower support arm 34. The secondpower mechanism 24 is shown having a cover 42, which serves as a mirrorholder support for carrying mirror holder 26. The first power mechanism20 has an upper casing 44 secured to a lower casing 46. Upper support 32comprises an upper mating portion 48 for mating with a cylindrical drivemember of first power mechanism 20 and a lower mating portion 49inserted within a cylindrical recess provided in a lower portion offirst power mechanism 20.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the components shown in FIG. 2. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, the second power mechanism 24 comprises a clutchassembly 58, a motor 62, a primary shaft 64, an intermediate shaft 66,and an upper drive pinion gear 54. The upper drive pinion gear 54 ismountable on an upper shaft 56, while clutch assembly 58 is mountablewithin a recess 60 provided at a mid-portion of mounting structure 52.Also included are a worm 74, a shaft 76, a lower pinion 78, a worm gear80, a spring 82, and a push nut 84.

FIGS. 4 and 5 further illustrate the manner in which the variouscomponents of the second power mechanism 24 are assembled andinteroperate to move mirror housing 12 between inner and outer limitingpositions in relation to swingable structure 16, which comprises upperand lower support arms 32, 34 in the illustrated embodiment.

In their assembled states, upper pinion gear 54 mates with lower piniongear 78. Lower pinion gear 78 is driven by worm gear 80 which interfaceswith worm 74 of intermediate shaft 66. Intermediate shaft 66 is set intorotation by a gear 68 of primary shaft 64 interfacing with gear 72 ofintermediate shaft 66. Motor worm drive shaft 63 of motor 62 interfaceswith gear 70 to cause primary shaft 64 to rotate.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of the assembly shown in FIG. 4 taken alongthe line 5—5. Each of upper and lower support arms 32, 34 includes arespective lower rack 50 and upper rack 51, each of which runslongitudinally along opposing lower and upper surfaces of the supportarms 32 and 34. The rack 51 interfaces with the upper pinion 54. Thelower rack 50 of lower support arm 34 interfaces with the lower pinion78. The upper pinion 54 is mounted on a shaft 56, which in theillustrated embodiment is integrally formed with mounting structure 52.Clutch assembly 58 is mounted on a shaft 76, which is provided within arecess 60 of mounting structure 52. As described previously, in theillustrated embodiment, clutch assembly 58 includes the lower pinion 78,a worm gear 80, a spring 82, and a push nut 84. The worm gear 80comprises an extending portion 83 and a first clutch face 81. The lowerpinion 78 comprises a second clutch face 79. When clutch assembly 58 isassembled as shown in FIG. 5, first clutch face 81 comes into contactwith second clutch face 79.

The upper pinion 54 is disposed so that it extends through upper gearopening 86 in a manner to allow interfacing with rack 51 of uppersupport arm 32. Similarly, worm gear 80 and lower pinion 78 are disposedin lower gear opening 88, and lower pinion 78 extends through lower gearopening 88 in a manner so that lower pinion 78 can interface with rack50 of lower support arm 34.

The assembly shown in FIG. 6 includes the same basic components, justarranged in a different orientation relative to one another.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 7, the illustrated vehicle mirror assembly isassembled by coupling upper mating portion 48 with cylindrical driveportion 90 of the first power mechanism 20 and concurrently insertinglower mating portion 49 into cylindrical opening 92 provided in thebottom portion of the first power mechanism 20. The upper and lowersupport arms 32 and 34 are then inserted into sleeves 36 and 38. Thevarious gears and moving components are then assembled within mountingstructure 52. Once the various components are mounted within mountingstructure 52, the resulting assembly is then secured to an inner portionof main housing portion 40, and the upper and lower support arms 32, 34fit within voids located behind mounting structure 52 in a manner sothat racks 51, 50 of upper and lower support arms 32, 34 mesh with theupper and lower pinions 54, 78. The cover 42 of the second powermechanism 24 is then secured to the open face of mounting structure 52.Mirror holder 26 and mirror unit 14 are then to be mounted to form aresulting mirror housing 12 as shown in FIG. 1.

In operation, the first power mechanism 20 is operable to pivotswingable structure 16, comprising upper and lower support arms 32, 34in the illustrated embodiment, between an operative position, as shownin FIG. 1, and a folded position whereby mirror unit 14 is moved towardthe direction at which it is proximate to and faces the side of vehicle19. The first power mechanism 20 is further structured and arranged toenable swingable structure 16 to be pivoted from its operative position,as shown in FIG. 1, toward either direction—either in a counterclockwiseor clockwise direction—in response to an unwanted impact below appliedin either direction to swingable structure 16 or to mirror housing 12.

All of the power mechanisms 20, 24 and 28 are electrically operated. Asillustrated in FIG. 13, an electronic control system may be provided forcontrolling the operation of the first power mechanism 20 and the secondpower mechanism 24 to control the powered pivoting of swingablestructure 16 and to control the generally horizontal movement of mirrorhousing 12 to various positions located between inner and outer limitingpositions. Such a control mechanism may be configured to control theoperation of the first power mechanism 20 independently of the operationof the second power mechanism 24, or the relative operations can besynchronized or otherwise dependent upon each other. Such a controlsystem would also control the adjustment of the mirror about verticaland horizontal axes by the third power mechanism 26. The control systemincludes a switch or switches 94 for manually actuating each of thepower mechanisms 20, 24 and 28. The control system includes amicroprocessor 96 for memorizing adjusted positions of the powermechanisms 20, 24 and 28.

The second power mechanism 24 is operatively associated with swingablestructure 16 and housing assembly 12 to move mirror housing 12 betweenan inner limiting position as shown in FIG. 2 and an outer limitingposition as shown in FIG. 1 into any desired position of adjustmentalong the continuum between the inner and outer limiting positions.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the first power mechanism 20 is made up of aseries of components constructed and arranged to be assembled withrespect to a fixed structure 100 in a predetermined sequence of downwardmovements into a predetermined cooperation relative to one another. Thecomponents include an inner fixed tubular member 102 and an outer fixedtubular member 104 which are fixed to fixed structures 100 and 101concentric with the upright pivotal axis provided by the first powermechanism 20. Also provided are a reversible electric motor 110 disposedwithin inner tubular member 102 and a speed reducing motion transmittingassembly, generally indicated at 106, between an output shaft 108 ofelectric motor 110 and swingable structure 16. Inner fixed tubularmember 102 is preferably made of cast iron, steel, or similar metal soas to constitute a flux yoke for electric motor 110. The outer fixedtubular member is also preferably made of metal such as steel or thelike.

Motion transmitting assembly 106 includes an elongated shaft 112 and astub shaft 115 which are the first components to be assembled bydownward movements into an upwardly opening bearing groove (not shown)and an upwardly opening bore (not shown) respectively formed in fixedstructure 101. Motion transmitting assembly 106 also includes a drivegear 116, which, as shown, preferably is either a worm gear fixed onmotor output shaft 108 and a driven gear 114 in the form of a worm wheelon elongated shaft 112 disposed in meshing relation with worm gear 116.Fixed on elongated shaft 112 is a secondary drive gear 118, which alsois preferably a worm gear. A secondary drive gear in the form of a wormwheel 120 is fixed on stub shaft 114 in meshing relation with secondaryworm gear 118. Fixed to stub shaft 114 above gear 120 is a pinion gear122 which meshes with a ring gear 124 having teeth 126 on its interiorperiphery for meshing, with pinion gear 122. Ring gear 124 rests on anexterior annular flange 128 formed on the lower end of inner tubularmember 102.

Speed reducing motion transmitting assembly 106 is a non-self-reversingassembly in the sense that the first worm gear set 114, 116 as well asthe second worm gear set 118, 120, while capable of being driven ineither direction by reversible motor 110, will prevent movement ineither direction against that of motor 110.

The bearing groove provided for elongated shaft 112 is enlarged in thearea of the first worm gear set 114, 116 and the second worm gear set118, 120 in that elongated shaft 112 and stub shaft 115 can be moveddownwardly together during assembly of one after the other. In theillustrated embodiment, electric motor 110 is fixedly mounted withininner tubular member 102 which is the next component to be assembled bymoving an exterior flange 128 on the lower end thereof into engagementwith fixed structure 101. The inner tubular member has an L-shaped wallportion 130 in one side thereof, the horizontal lug of which isapertured to receive a bearing 132 within which the upper end of stubshaft 115 is journalled.

In order to positively prevent movement of inner tubular member 102about its axis which is concentric to the pivotal axis, flange 128 maybe suitably pinned to the fixed structure 100/101 or otherwise preventit from turning about its axis. Inner tubular member 102 with electricmotor 110 fixed thereto are assembled in such a way as to bring wormgear 116 into meshing relation with worm wheel 114. Moreover, sincemotor 110 is fixed on fixed structure 100/101, suitable grooves (notshown) can be formed in fixed structure 101 to accommodate electricalcontrol wires (not shown) for motor 110.

Ring gear 66 forms part of a sub-assembly which is mounted within amovable tubular member 134. Movable tubular member 134 is preferablymolded of a suitable plastic material. The sub-assembly includingmovable tubular member 134 may be regarded as a component of the firstpower mechanism 20.

The sub-assembly includes a spring biased indexing system, generallyindicated at 136 mounted between gear 124 and movable tubular member134. As best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, indexing system 136 includes anindexing ring 138 which is keyed to the interior periphery of movabletubular member 134, as by key elements 140, so that it can move axiallywith respect to movable tubular member 134 but must move with movablemember 134 as it turns about its vertical axis. Movable tubular member134 includes a radially extending portion 142 and its upper midsectionwhich provides a downwardly facing surface on the interior periphery ofmovable tubular member 134. A coil spring 144 for biasing indexingsystem 136 has its upper end seated on the downwardly facing surface ofportion 142 and its lower end seated on indexing ring 138. Indexing ring138 has four annularly spaced downwardly opening recesses 146 formedtherein, the arcuate extent of which are defined by opposite inclinedsurfaces. Ringer 124 has four annularly spaced indexing projections 148which are shaped to be received in recesses 146. The sub-assembly piecescomprising coil spring 144, indexing 138, and ring gear 124, are movedrespectively into the interior periphery of movable tubular member 134and retained therein with the spring in stressed condition by aconventional C clip 150.

Movable tubular member 134 with its contained sub-assembly is assemblednext by being moved downwardly over inner tubular member 102 to meshring gear 124 with pinion gear 122 until the lower end of movabletubular member 134 rests on fixed structure 101.

Outer tubular member 104 is the last component of first power mechanism20 to be assembled. Outer tubular member 104 has an exteriorly extendedflange 152 at its lower end and an interiorly directed flange 154 at itsupper end. The axial extent of the outer tubular member 104 is greaterthan the axial extent of the movable tubular member 134 below radialportion 142 but less than the full axial extent thereof. The relativeaxial sizes are such that, when outer tubular member 104 is assembledover movable tubular member 134 with lower flange 152 engaging fixedstructure 101, annular space is left between the lower surface of upperflange 154 and the upper surface of radial portion 142. Within thisannular space, a spring biased control system, generally indicated at156, is mounted.

As best shown in FIGS. 9-12, spring biased control system 156 includes abiasing spring 158 in the form of a wavy ring of spring steel mountedover the upper periphery of movable tubular member 134 until it isseated on the upper surface of radial portion 142. Control system 156also includes a control ring 160 which is mounted over the upperperiphery of the movable tubular member until it is seated on wavy ringspring 158. Control ring 160 is keyed to the upper exterior periphery ofmovable tubular member 134 by key elements 162 so that it must move withmovable tubular member 134 when it turns about its axis but may haveaxial movement against spring 158 with respect to movable tubular member134.

Control ring 160 constitutes a movable control structure which isconnected through motion transmitting assembly 106 and spring-biasedindexing system 136 to move with swingable structure 16. Upper flange154 of outer tubular member 104 constitutes a fixed control structurewhich is fixed with respect to fixed structures 100, 101.

Control structures 154 and 160 provide interengaging control surfaceswhich may take any desired form capable of achieving the functionshereinafter specified. However, as shown, the control surfaces include aflat radially disposed inner upwardly facing annular surface 164 formedon control ring 100 and a mating flat radially disposed inner downwardlyfacing annular surface 166 on flange 154. It will be noted that annularcontrol surface 164 may be divided into discrete arcuate surfaceportions by the recesses provided which receive key elements 162.Control ring 160 includes a pair of annularly spaced relatively largearcuate projections 168 disposed outwardly of the annular controlsurface 164 thereof. Projections 168 define control surfaces which foreach projection 168 include a flat radially disposed upwardly facingarcuate surface 170 having an inclined surface 172 extending downwardlyand arcuately away from each end thereof.

The annular flange 154 includes a pair of annularly spaced relativelysmall arcuate projections 174 disposed outwardly of annular controlsurface 166. Projections 174 define control surfaces which for eachprojection 174 includes a flat radially disposed downwardly facingarcuate surface 176 having an inclined surface 278 extending upwardlyand arcuately away from each end thereof.

Referring again to FIG. 7, final assembly of pivot assembly is completedby extending fasteners 180 through recesses provided and lower flangedportions of fixed structure 100 and securing fasteners 180 intocorresponding recesses provided within fixed structure 101.

Further details concerning the structure of first power mechanism 20 maybe implemented in accordance with the description provided incommonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,703,732.

While the invention has been described with reference to a preferredembodiment, it is understood that the words that have been used hereinare words of description, rather than words of limitation. Changes maybe made, within the purview of the appended claims, without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the invention in its aspects. Although theinvention has been described herein in reference to particular elements,materials and embodiments, it is understood that the invention is not tobe limited to the particulars disclosed herein, and that the inventionextends to all equivalent structures, methods, and uses, such as arewithin the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle mirror assembly comprising; a fixedsupport adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, a swingable structurepivotally supported by and extending laterally from said fixed supportto a distal end for pivotal movement about a generally upright axisbetween an operative position extending laterally and a folded positionextending transversely to said extended position, a mirror housingsupported at said distal end of said swingable structure, a first powermechanism for pivoting said swingable structure about said upright axisbetween said operative and said folded positions, a second powermechanism operatively interconnecting said swingable structure and saidmirror housing for moving said mirror housing relative to said fixedsupport to various positions of adjustment between inner and outerlimiting positions, said second power mechanism including a rackdisposed on said swingable structure and a pinion rotatably supported onsaid mirror housing, and said swingable structure including a pair ofparallel and spaced apart support arms, each of said support armsincluding one of said racks, a pair of said pinions rotatably supportedby said mirror housing and with one pinon in meshing engagement with oneof said racks and said other pinion in meshing engagement with the otherof said racks.
 2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a mirrorunit, a third power mechanism movably supporting said mirror unit insaid mirror housing for adjusting the position of said mirror unitrelative to said mirror housing about horizontal and vertical axes. 3.An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pinions are in meshingengagement with one another, a worm gear in driving relationship withone of said pinions and a worm in meshing engagement with said wormgear, and a motor in driving relationship with said worm.
 4. An assemblyas set forth in claim 2 an electronic control system for controllingpower to said power mechanisms.
 5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4wherein said control system includes a switch for actuating each of saidpower mechanisms.
 6. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein saidcontrols system includes a microprocessor for memorizing adjustedpositions of said power mechanisms.